BRUSSELS – IPC and almost 40 other groups called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to postpone the January deadline for a new chemicals database and to study related issues further before going forward.

Under current plans, companies supplying articles containing substances of very high concern (SVHCs) to the EU market will be obligated to submit information on these articles to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) beginning Jan. 5.

“IPC supports the intent of the SCIP database to make information about SVHCs available throughout the lifecycle of products and enable circular economy efficiencies,” said Dr. Kelly Scanlon, IPC director of EHS policy and research. “However, the development and implementation of the database has raised doubts regarding its workability, proportionality, and value.”

Specifically, the groups say ECHA failed to finalize the database within a timeframe that would enable companies to develop, test and adapt their own systems to meet the January deadline. Moreover, contrary to the EU Better Regulation principles, the requirements were adopted without any prior stakeholder consultation or impact assessment.

“IPC will continue to work on this topic with our industry colleagues and European policy makers, and we will keep our members engaged as it develops,” said Alison James, IPC senior director for government relations in Europe.

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